What My Students Think: What Age Is Too Young for Social Media?

When I was a kid my computer was basically a clunky screen with two or three games and a DOS operating system. We used floppy discs. Internet was not available to the public. Nobody owned cell phones. There was no social media. My computer's home screen looked like this:

Those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about are very lucky indeed!

Today's kids have access to unbelievably advanced computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones and software. The internet has made an endless oasis of information available at the click of a button (or voice command via Siri, Google and Cortana). In addition to all of that - there are platforms that make everything interconnected, shareable, instantly available to friends and followers: social media. Kids can learn, design, create, chat, share, play and game on levels that were unimaginable just 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, this digital universe - with social media at its forefront - also poses multiple threats. Adult content (pornographic, violent, vulgar), viruses, scams, phishing, online bullying and questionable role-models just to name a few.

So... At what age should children be allowed access to this intricate, ever-changing and ever-growing social universe of information and possibilities? I asked my students "At what age should children be allowed on social media". Here are their answers:

Ly Nguyen:

I think 12 year old kids should be allowed on social media. Social media always has good things and bad things, and 12-year-olds can learn which is which.

Karina Atanasova:

Nowadays, social media is everywhere and access to it is easy. The new generation is raised with technology and children love it. In my opinion it is dangerous to let kids younger than 7 to use social media, even if today kids are so much different than a few years ago.

Saad Al-Sarraj:

I think the suitable age to let kids use social media should be after they are 13 years old but with monitoring or surveillance if there is such a need.... I think they can use it alone when they are 16 or 17 years old because then they are more rational & conscious.

Iva Daneva:

Today approximately 60% of children have already used social media by the time they are 10. Facebook and Instagram have the most users under age of 13, and some of the children admit they ignore the age restrictions. If your kid is interested in joining to social media just sit down and talk with him or her. Explain what risks it has but also what benefits can it bring. Parents are the ones who show their child what is right and direct them.

Unubold Tsolmon:

I think parents should control their children's usage of social media and computers. In my opinion, kids should use social media starting at age 13.... Each family has different rules, but, especially for younger kids, it's a good idea for parents to have access to their kids’ pages, at least at first, to be sure that what's being posted is appropriate. Parents can help keep their children from doing something they will regret later.

Enkhtuya Orosoo:

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I think kids should be 16 before they start using social media. Each family will have diffrent rules.... 16 is generally at the age when kids start developing a broader understanding of the world around them.

Irina Netova:

In my opinion kids shouldn’t be allowed on social media until they’re at least 17. Social media gives kids the wrong idea that they should copy other people’s behavior. They can see pictures and posts from celebrities, actors, singers and they’re trying to dress like them and act like them and they shouldn’t because they’re still kids.

I think nowadays social media is isolating people more than it is connecting them. People everywhere are so obsessed with their phones, always on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and not paying attention to what is actually happening around them at the moment. And I don’t think this is what kids should be doing. They should be out getting to know the world around them, making friends, exploring and learning

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Thanks, guys, for sharing your opinion with me! :-)

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